— What was your inspiration to buy a villa in Mexico and rent it to vacation guests?

Patrizio: “Somebody had told us about Sayulita and how charming it was, so we decided to check it out and then stumbled upon the villa. We were not planning on buying but we instinctually felt that the place was right for us even though it was a wreck and needed a lot of work. My partner Mark always wanted a vacation home in Mexico and the price and potential for this property felt just right. We felt compelled to rent the house to vacation guests because we wanted to share the beauty of our discovery and the results of our design vision with the world.”

— Casa dos Chicos living area

— The villa is very colourful and typical of Mexico. How would you describe the style of Casa dos Chicos?

Patrizio: “Modern, clean, airy, in touch with the amazing tropical nature outside and culturally connected to the history of Mexican design. I have always been a fan of Barragan and as an Italian it always seemed so exotic and interesting that he would take the modernism that I love and adapt it to local colors and materials. It showed me the endless possibility and fun aspect of architecture!”

— Bedroom

— Please tell us a bit about the facilities and rooms at the vacation home.

Patrizio: “The villa rental has 4 suites all with king size beds, private baths and sitting areas. It can sleep up to 10 people in total with additional 2 twin beds. The top floor is devoted to the kitchen, dining room, living room, hammocks and the Jacuzzi. It’s all outside in the open air protected only by tall palapa roofs and exposed to the gentle breezes of the hill. The views from up there are amazing. You can experience the whole coast, the jungle, the mountains and the town below.

At ground level the garden is lush and full of flowers. There is a heated pool, an outdoor shower and 2 private sitting areas with barbecue. My favorite piece is a Mexican version of an Italian fountain all done with beach pebbles sitting right in the middle of the garden.”

—

— What would you describe to be the essence of the villa?

Patrizio: “Casa dos Chicos is a Mexican retreat that is also a tree house and a luxurious vacation home. It is playful, fun and relaxing to the utmost. You never have to leave the house to feel like you are on vacation and I love that feeling of carefree joy that you get from being there.”

— Villa exterior

— To you personally, what is so special about this vacation rental?

Patrizio: “I feel very proud of this project because all the thought that went into the renovation feels repaid with the beauty I always seek in life. And in the process I perfected my Spanish through working with contractors and local trades!”

— Please tell us about the location of the villa and Sayulita.

Patrizio: “The house sits on top of a hill overlooking the ocean and the town of Sayulita below, yet it is just a short walk to town and the beach. Sayulita is on the Pacific Coast in what is called the Mexican Riviera, just a half an hour north of Puerto Vallarta.”

—

— What’s the particular charm of Sayulita?

Patrizio: “It has an interesting community made up of locals, ex-pats and hippies from the United States, Europe and Canada, a new generation of hippies from Mexico City and the local and imported surfing community which gives the town a great vibe and energy. You can walk everywhere and it’s free of large hotels making it still a charming fishing village with great food and local color.”

—

— What made you decide to buy a property in Mexico?

Patrizio: “Madness! And a love for the Mexican culture and the beautiful tropical beaches.”

—

— What is local life like and what would your perfect day at Casa dos Chicos look like?

Patrizio: “Local life is very vibrant and everything happens in the streets. You can eat and drink and shop and listen to music till late at night. My perfect day is to wake up and stretch out on the roof top living room with a glass of orange juice, the birds singing all around and some yoga. Walk to town for some breakfast street food and head for the beach with our dog Lilli. Have lunch on the beach with a Margarita. Swim a little, or surf or hike the jungle and take endless walks on the beach till mid afternoon. Come back to the house for a dip in the pool, a snack, some reading and napping and then a shower. Cook some fish on the grill or walk to town for some guacamole and tacos and enjoy the local music and art scene. And before going to bed a dip in the jacuzzi is a must!”

—

— What would you recommend your vacation guests to see or do in and around Sayulita?

Patrizio: “Whale watching in the winter months and surfing for sure. I love to ride horses which you can rent on the beach as well as hiking in the jungle to reach deserted beaches north and south of the town. There are companies who organize zip lining in the jungle and all kind of tours. Sayulita is full of boutiques and great crafts and shopping is a must to bring home some local color. Of course the best thing is always to chill out at the beach and take in the sun.

Whale watching is best in the winter months when they come to give birth from the northern US and Canada waters. At times you can see them so close to the coast that you feel you can swim to them. Best chances to experience them up close is to hire a boat to take you where they are hanging out for the day and see them spray and jump out of the water.”

—

— When is the best time to come for a vacation at Casa dos Chicos?

Patrizio: “I think October through May... Summer months are hot and humid but still beautiful.”

—

— Thank you, Patrizio!

Please check directly with the owner for special arrangements or information not listed here.

High in the outdoor living room of the bright orange villa – three floors above ground and 100 above sea level – there’s a soaring view of the Pacific Ocean and verdant mountainous skyline. The tops of houses, palm trees and climbing fuchsia bougainvillea give the distinct feeling of sitting in some sort of luxe tree house. Inside the two structures – which Patrizio connected with a walking bridge–four simple, luminous-white bedrooms are decorated with furniture and textiles from local markets. They are the only rooms with real walls. The rest of the 2,700-square-foot spread is dedicated to the fresh, open air. The kitchen, dining room and living room all sit on the third floor, under a thatched roof, and there’s a small soaking tub up there and a set of hammocks with pinch-yourself vistas of jungle, garden, rooftops, ocean.

This beautiful villa perched high on a hill overlooking the Pacific Coastline of Mexico in Sayulita is absolutely gorgeous. I want to live here full-time... With beautiful 360º views from the ocean to the surrounding mountains and engulfed in dense tropical landscaping it is incredibly peaceful. There are two towers on the property, each one housing two bedrooms with their own ensuite bathroom and outdoor seating area. Resting on top of the towers is the living room and then kitchen/dining area bridged together with a walkway where you can take in the views whilst you cook, make cocktails or just seek retreat from the sun and enjoy the sea breeze. We were a group of six and never at any time did we feel that we weren’t able to find our own space. The living area also provides a soaking tub that is perfect for watching the sunset in the evening. Downstairs there is a generous sized pool and a BBQ area. Every detail in every room indoor and outdoor is perfectly curated... Send me back.